episode_0016

“If you want to criticize, you are always welcome to do so.”

Glenn, who revealed his feelings calmly, said so quietly.

A lot of time had passed. Darkness had gathered around them, and just like yesterday, the two of them had finished training at the East Training Grounds and were walking along the night road quietly. The saintess was silently listening to Glenn’s story from 1 year and 3 months ago.

After Glenn was captured by Grimes and Milicia was captured by the guildmaster, the two met again as promised and headed to the training grounds in the east. They didn’t say much to each other. They thought now wasn’t the time to talk. And just like yesterday, Milicia returned to her role as a student and Glenn as a master and began today’s training.

Milicia’s legs were quite sore, but perhaps because she was used to it, she was able to complete the training better than expected. No, now that I look at it, it seems like Glenn was getting used to throwing. It definitely felt like he was always throwing at a similar speed, but by the time the sun set, he had completed more throws than yesterday.

And after finishing all the training, it was Glenn who spoke first on the way back. With a self-mocking expression, he confessed what had happened a year and three months ago and his feelings as if he was repenting.

The saintess’s face hardened at the story that had finally come out, but soon, as she listened to his story, sadness gradually filled her beautiful appearance. However, the calm Glenn was not shaken by the saintess’s expression and calmly finished his story.

“What are you talking about, Glenn.”

The saint opened her mouth with difficulty. Her voice was filled with sadness and a little anger. When Glenn glanced at her, he saw that the saint’s expression was also a mixture of sadness and anger. She was saddened by Glenn’s painful past. And she was angry at Glenn’s self-blaming attitude.

“Glenn, you mentioned it last time.”

The voice wavered. The beautiful voice was filled with confusion of emotions. If other people had heard it, they would have been caught up in the confusion of emotions and deeply sympathized with the saintess’s emotions.

“You told me when I was blaming myself.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks. A single teardrop on her beautiful face was like a beautiful work of art.

“Don’t deny it.”

“I, a noble saint, and I, a warrior, have always been beautiful.”

The saintess reached out her hand. Glenn absentmindedly accepted her touch. Her hand touched his cheek. With a sad expression, she touched Glenn’s cheek and said so.

“It’s not your fault.”

Ah. Stop it.

At those words, Glenn reacted like a spring. He stepped back, as if he was being bounced. Even if he said he stepped back, it was only a little distance from the saintess. The saintess reached out again to him despite such actions.

No, don’t. If you touch that hand, if you touch that hand…!

Glenn turned around. He deliberately turned his back to the saintess. It was a sign of refusal. He quickly opened his mouth.

“627 people.”

“Huh?”

“627 people. The number of deaths in the Haesin Island incident officially recognized by the kingdom. The number of people you held a memorial service for. ”

At Glenn’s words, the saintess nodded absentmindedly. She didn’t know exactly, but she had heard that more than 600 people had been sacrificed. For Glenn to mention such a number, on earth…

“But there were people who were not included in that number. There were people who sacrificed their lives, but their sacrifices were not recorded in the history books.”

Glenn spat out, and the saintess’s eyes widened. She was wise and could guess what Glenn was talking about. Glenn’s expression was distorted. The extreme pain, the pain was weighing on him.

“At that time, refugees were wandering around the continent that had become ruins after the defeat of the Demon King. Among them, there were those who chose to migrate to the island, deceived by the Duke of Arclight’s sweet words. They, they…were completely erased from history. Because they were not citizens of the kingdom, and because they were nothing more than discarded pieces of paper to the Duke’s family, they…those innocent lives…were all forgotten. Even children…those 219 lives.”

Glenn’s two arms wrapped around him. Kwak. He grabbed his own shoulders tightly with both arms. He could see his back trembling.

Milicia’s heart was also shaken. Although she couldn’t see Glenn’s face, darkened by guilt, or terrified, she could feel it.

It was sad because it really was like that. It was terribly sad.

“Only I, only I can carry them. Only I, remember them. 219 innocent people. Five young lives that played with me…!”

‘Sir, you’re so strong!’

‘Wow, you’re breaking that big rock! Hahaha, that’s amazing!’

‘These guys, when you see me like this, you should look up to me and praise me as your big brother!’

‘But he’s old. He’s 15 years older than us!’

‘Even so tiny! Still!’

‘Who told you that?’

‘I studied!’

‘I studied!’

‘Sounds like studying! And it’s small, but it’s bigger than you guys, you guys!’

‘Hehehe!’

‘Hehehe!’

‘Oh my…haha…’

The way they smiled brightly. The way they finally called each other hyung. The way they were happy to play together. The way children are pure. And…the way they were terrified in the face of death.

Johnny. Willie. Billmore. Gilly. Tir…

“I can’t forget those kids. I can’t forget their smiles. Those kids, those kids, they cried out to me to save them…I can’t forget that. So I have to relieve those kids of their resentment…I have to live for them until the very end…I have to solve everything with my own hands…!”

Oh, this guy… this guy…

Milicia could assert it. No, she could declare it as a saint. If possible, she would declare it to the whole world.

People called her the most benevolent saint in the world whenever they saw her. They praised her as the most holy person in the world.

However, one who holds the title of saint could be certain.

He said that he had never seen such kindness or such great consideration.

In the kingdom, in the people, and even in himself, this man remembers those who have been forgotten. He embraces their lives. He has fought for them. This man… This man is truly…

“But. And yet, I didn’t move. I didn’t try to move myself. Just because I was desperate, I got stuck in a swamp of words… and did nothing… and even rejected you who came to me out of nowhere, and later considered it an opportunity… and eventually, in the end, I gave you my share of the work… I dared to deceive you and arbitrarily took on the karma that I had to bear-”

But now I can’t just leave it like that. I won’t let you get hurt anymore. I don’t want to see those pure eyes that helped me crumble. I want to support you, who supported me, too.

therefore…

“You don’t have to say it.”

“Ah…”

Glenn felt warmth on his back.

It was a softness and warmth that I had never felt before or after becoming an orphan, even as a child.

Even after becoming an adventurer, I was able to feel warmth that I had never felt before, even from my colleagues.

What is this unbelievable, unrealistic, ridiculous kindness?

A mistake? No. This was a sacred embrace. It was the most sacred embrace that everyone longed for, but had never experienced before.

The first lucky person to enter her arms was a haggard adventurer who blamed himself.

“Militia…?”

“You don’t have to say anything. Your heart, your self-reproach, your sins…I can carry them.”

No. No.

Why, why you. Why the twisted desires of a man you’ve only known for 10 days. Why…

“I feel…like you. A sense of responsibility. A heavy sense of responsibility. I led the memorial service for 627 people, but that was all. I didn’t think there would be more victims. I didn’t try to find the lives of the 219 people. I thought my duty ended there, and buried it in my memories. That shouldn’t have happened. Someone, you have to realize that you remember. As a saint, that’s your true responsibility. ”

“Militia, I…”

“It’s okay.”

My body was spinning on its own.

The saint grabbed him and turned him around. He locked eyes with the saint.

Eyes with a single tear running down them, and a smile full of compassion.

In that way, from that fleetingly beautiful appearance, an incomparably sacred power flowed out.

Oh, I know. This was a divine power that only high-ranking priests could wield.

That divine power filled him.

It filled Glenn’s emptiness. It appeased his fears. It covered his guilt.

And he took upon himself the sins.

“I told you, you trust me unconditionally.”

And before her eyes, there was a saintess more noble than anyone else, who was trying to take on the heart of a shabby man, even though they had only known each other for 10 days.

“Trust me, Glenn. I’ll get it.”

“With your heart on your back, victory is in my hands.”

“Not just for myself, but for you. Definitely.”

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.

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Moonlight announcing the night.

The sound of insects scurrying about.

Variations on grass moving in the wind.

Despite all that, it’s mind-blowing,

Glenn lost everything to the saint’s declaration before his eyes.

‘Let’s admit it.’

Glen admitted.

‘It’s not revenge.’

Glenn realized.

‘It was love at first sight.’

All questions have been answered.

‘Why did you accept the request?’

All actions were in sync.

‘Why did you comfort her?’

I didn’t deceive my heart.

‘I was the one who fell in love first.’

So I declared.

‘So, a warrior whose face I don’t even know.’

With a sorry heart, carefully.

‘The heart of a saint, which you do not have.’

Naturally, even though I thought I wasn’t qualified.

‘I’ll take it.’

A harsh challenge to a rival you’ve never met before.

-Chapter 2: You must not train carelessly. The end-